a small splinter

the pawn shop on Sunset went under. they covered the shattered glass with cheap plywood. the guy who did it drove the screws in crooked. the wind off the street hit the board. it made a hollow slapping sound. nobody was left inside to listen. there was only bare linoleum and rat shit. i ran my hand over the rough grain. i got a small splinter in my palm. i dug it out with my teeth. i spit it onto the sidewalk. a crushed beer can rolled past my shoe.